“Absolutely,” Trey said grimly.
Nicolas nodded, although he looked upset about it. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard. “They’ve suffered enough, Nic. These beautiful, fierce creatures don’t deserve this life of hiding in the mountains, watching as their magic dies away.”
“I just don’t want to see another dragon die,” he replied hoarsely.
“Then help me protect them,” I said.
“What can we do? We’re just humans.”
Glancing at Goose and Aristo, I said, “We bonded with dragons for a reason. So let’s find out why.”
His blue eyes lit up. My words were getting through to him. “Maya wouldn’t have hesitated. She would have been the first one up in the air, charging toward Senia. Like you, earlier on the beach.” Nicolas startled me by hugging me briefly. “Let’s do this, Neri. Let’s make Maya proud.”
He left us to climb aboard Aristo’s back, and Trey and I followed suit with Celes and Goose. When we were mounted, Aristo opened his mouth and let out an ear-splitting yell. The other dragons roared in response before taking to the air as one.
Goose was shaking underneath me, so I leaned close to his ear. “I’m here, Goose. Now and forever. I know it’s bad right now, but we will get through this. I swear it.”
Looking at me over his shoulder, the dragon let gratitude wash over our bond before he leapt into the air and followed the other dragons.
Senia’s vision was coming true. The dragons were returning to their lands.
We were a massive rainbow-colored army headed into an uncertain future. The last time the dragons had gone to war, they’d been nearly wiped out. Now we were fighting again for Senia, for the magic, for our future. I had no idea what would happen next, and while that scared me, I knew I was in the right place doing the right thing.
I would fight for Goose. I would avenge Senia. I would save the magic and the dragons. I was just one girl, but I would make a difference or die trying.
We raced west—toward our destiny.
Nerine’s adventure continues in the next and final book in the Smoke and Mirrors series, coming 2018!
Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She's always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.
Run and Touch the Sky Page 17
